A loud hammering noise wakes me up again. I step out and stand there in a daze... Ma's sewing... I crawl back inside and look for a smoke. I'm out... I drag myself out again. I make a quick stop by Aura's door, but move along. Hate it when I run out of them first thing in the morning... I get three packs and a lighter. Lucky me my feet know the way...
“Leo.” I stop and return to the kitchen.
“You haven't called me by my name since I got back and now you won't stop?” Ma doesn't say anything... I wait an agonizing moment longer and return to my cave... The images haunt me ever since. I can't remember if it's been two or three days now... Nightmares came back too. I'm hungry yet thinking about food makes me sick. I'm tired yet I can't fall asleep. I take a cig after cig and continue to poison myself... If it weren't for the damned heat, I'd be satisfied with cigarettes only, but water, sadly, is essential, whether I like it or not... I go out of the room and run into Ma by Aura's room.
“What's this?” I ask.
“Had some left-over fabric from a bunch of clients. Think she'll like it?”
“Show me even one person who didn't like something you made for them.” I tell her and go into the kitchen. Wait.
“She ain't here?”
“No. She was feeling fine the past two days so she returned to work this morning. I'll be going now.” Ma says and leaves. I shrug my shoulders. Whatever. I get the coffee and hallow up again alone with my misery.
I wake up again from a major headache... I managed to pass out, huh?... My head pounds... Ugh... I drag myself out. Something catches my eye and I return to the living room.
“Can I help you?”
A woman stares at me. The younger old lady from before... “I was looking for Maria.”
“She ain’t here.”
“Yes, I noticed. Mind if I wait for her?” She comes over closer to me.
“Yes. I'm about to leave too, so, come back later.”
“Oh, but we are always welcome here...”
“As you can see nobody is home right now. Nor the tenants, nor the owner. So, if you would.” I gesture to the exit. She leans in closer.
“Such a cold attitude, perhaps you need someone to warm it up for you?”
“Leave. Now.” I tell the woman. She stares at me upset and walks out. What is wrong with me? Any other time I would have had her split open wide, right there on the kitchen table... This place is dulling me. I gotta get out... I drag myself to the liquor store and get a couple of bottles. I come back to the kitchen and shove one bottle in the fridge. I walk back to the study when something else catches my eyes... The dress is gone. The colorful, patchy dress with no back... I step backwards and notice a crack. I peek through the slit in the open door. That's the same dress alright... Isaura stands in front of the mirror, admiring the dress...
“The hell is that!” I burst in through the door, startling the girl. She turns to face me and guards her back. I set the bottle down and grab her by the shoulders. I spin her around and hold her straight.
“What are these.” I repeat the question.
“Nothing. I got them when I was little...”
“You did not.”
“I grew up on a farm, we had some chicken wire in the barn, I fell on it and struggled to get out!” She yells at me through the mirror. Her entire back is carved with scars... I lean over her shoulder.
“If that were true, you would have scratches only. These are holes you got here... You were pushed down on it and held there with brute force...” Her expression changes... “You don't want to tell me the truth. Don't. You have no reason for it. But don't lie to me. You have no reason for it either.” I slip out of my shirt and put it on her shoulders. I take the bottle and leave her room again. That explains the stupid male shirts and pants with other less revealing clothes... Too bad though... It's a lovely dress for a nice body... It suits her too...
“Leo?” Huh? My mind wonders back to reality. I take the book off my face. Pitch black... Was that my imagination?
“I'm coming in!” The same voice again. I quickly get up and open the door. The light blinds me.
“I... Here.” I feel something metallic press against my skin. I crack an eye open. Food. Huh. My hand moves for me. I take the tray and balance it.
“What's this?”
“You haven't eaten much these past three days so I... This is for the typewriter!”
“Don't want it.” I give the tray back. She changed into her usual attire... Shame... “I owed you. We're even.”
She hesitates. “Then take it as a thank you for taking care of me and helping when I was sick.”
“Where's Ma?”
“Out working. She babysits sometimes when someone has a night shift...” She catches my look.
“It's edible. I'm sure you've had worse.” She mocks me and walks away from me before I say anything else. That works. I grin and take the food inside the study. I try a bite... It's not bad... Suddenly my hunger picks up. I bite into the meat like a starving animal... The vine drips down my chin and down my chest. That's strange. Just this morning I was dead sick just from the idea of food and now... I wipe my mouth off with the back of my hand. I take a good look at myself. Such a mess. I smile and go wash up. The reflection in the mirror. Oh boy... I smile like a lunatic again and make an effort to really wash up, from head to toes. I stand naked in the middle of the bathroom, all squeaky clean when I realize I didn't bring a change of clothes with me. I slap a towel around my hips and leave the bathroom. I barely manage to stick my head out the door and quickly step back in.
I open a tiny crack and watch Aura leave her room as quietly as she can. What's the towel for? OH! I wait for her to disappear from the hall and quickly rush over into the study. I tumble around the room in the dark, getting dressed, stubbing my toe a few times and run out like crazy. I run to the beach, hoping my half-assed-quick-witted assumption was right. I stare into the night's darkness trying to make out anything that would resemble a woman's figure... I notice a lump of fabric on the sand. I stare straight in the same direction as it... Minutes go by and, finally, a dark figure emerges from the water. She takes the towel, drying herself off and slips back into her thick dress. I crouch down by the rail and quickly crawl away, far enough to be able to stand up again and run back to the house. I crash into the study and listen. Small footsteps enter the room, next to the study. Well well... I grin and slip out of my clothes and go to sleep, properly this time.
I spend the next week pestering Ma about anything that needs fixing or helping, or anything at all. She fights it at first, but gives up. Aura hasn't gone to another night time skinny dipping since that one time. She has been practicing how to type each night after work. The sounds the machine makes with a rookie using it are hilarious. I got in trouble a few times because of it. I chop the wood in the back yard. Getting ready for winter in this heat seems like a bad joke, but that's what makes it easier when winter comes. Even though it never gets that cold, but as long as it eases Ma's mind...
This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.
“Stop that chopping!” Ma comes over to me with a note. “Here! Go to the market and bring these back. I have a delivery to make.” She says walking quickly away from me with a bag on her shoulder. I take the towel and wipe the sweat of my face and body. I go back inside and put a shirt on. I take a bag too and stroll down to the market. On my way there I find myself to have forgotten my cigs on the kitchen table. I swear and keep walking. The market is as loud as ever. I try my best to get everything I need and get the hell outta there. The old ladies there are vicious... I return to the house. I walk through the gate and freeze at the sight in front of me. Aura, on the steps, with a cigarette... I quickly snap out of it and walk past her and into the kitchen. I set the groceries down, sorting them out to their rightful places, I wash the vegetables and the fruit and walk back over to the open door. I sit down on the steps next to Aura.
“I'll get you a new pack.” She says showing me last two cigs inside this one. I take one and light it.
“Don't sweat it.”
“What did you do?” She asks, taking a smoke.
“Chopped some wood, went to the market...” I play with her on purpose.
“You've been here for over two weeks and you haven't worked a day. Where do have the cash for cigs and vine?”
“I saved up. I worked as I traveled. Had to eat something.”
“What ya work?”
“This and that... I learn fast.”
“I see...” She takes the last cigarette. “Aren't you going to ask?”
“Ask what? I already know the why and the how. It's written all over you. The messy hair, the ripped-out shirt button, the missing shoe... All I need to know is the who...” I tell her, putting my cig out. “Oh no, wait. I know that too.” I look right at her. She doesn't return my gaze. I sigh.
“Get changed before Ma sees ya or she'll riot.” I tell Aura, taking the smoke out of her lips. She gets up and does as told. I finish the cigarette and get back inside too. I start fidgeting with the food. I have a pretty good feeling what Ma's thinking of making with these ingredients.
“Can you help me?”
I turn around. “With what?” I ask the girl.
“Learn how to type faster...”
“How fast you wanna be?”
“Hundred words per minute?” She says and a laugh bursts out of me.
“Start with 10 per minute. Right now, you barely type ten letters per minute.” I tease her. “Work your way up from there. Speed ain’t good to you if you make mistakes.” I look at her. “If you really want to get better at it, I know one way.”
“What's that?”
“You need to type by sound. Someone needs to read or tell you what to type. Spoken words are faster than written. If you can learn to keep up with that then you have a chance.” I rinse the knife off. “Why the sudden interest?” I look at Aura again.
“Why sudden? I've always wanted to learn to type. I just never had anyone who could show it to me.” Her face tells me there's more to it...
“No.”
“Why?”
“You're not being honest with me. I have no obligation to help you.” I go back to cooking. Aura persists to stand in the doorway.
“You have the time so why not!” She pouts at me.
“I want the truth.” I stare at her. She bites her lip and squeezes her fists quickly a few times. I look away from her again.
“I want a better job!” She blurs out. I stop. “I'm sick of scraps...”
“That wouldn't have anything to do with how you got back looking tonight?”
Silence. “A little...” A whisper. I set the meat down and glare at her.
“Vince made a move on me, but I refused. He keeps asking me out every few days. Today he ran out of manners... He said that a mere sorter like myself should be thankful to him for even taking an interest in me...” She looks away from me and her voice quiets down. I wait. “I lost the shoe cause I beat him up with it as he got busy groping me!” I fight a smile and a laugh. Nice going there... She continues.
“I want a better job. I want to learn how to type so I can have a better job.” She looks right at me. I wash my hands and walk past her and into the study. I take a few books and return to the living room. I set them on the desk and step back out into the hall.
“Well get in here already.” I tell her and she tumbles in. “Sit.” I point to the chair. She sits down. I take a book and a pencil. I open it at random and pick a paragraph. I mark it.
“Here. Practice typing while looking first. If you struggle to come up with words on your own then this is one way to do it. You'll also be able to learn grammar too. It's one thing to read it and another to write it. Once you'll learn how to type without thinking of which button to click - then we'll talk more. Do a sentence at a time. Get a rhythm going. Practice with these three first.” I put another marker down. “Of course, it'll take you too long since you barely have time...”
“I'll quit.” Aura looks me right in the eye. “My rent is covered for the next month! I have some savings too! I'll learn fast and find another job!” Her eyes tell me everything I need. I smile.
“Type away.” I lean back from her and return to the kitchen. The clumsy, but firm clangs echo through the house till late night. It's a nice addition to the hammering sounds of a sewing machine. The house turns into a steady cacophony in no time.
A noise from the outside catches my attention. I crawl out from under the sink. The typewriter doesn't stop. Good. I step outside.
“What do you want?” I call out to the bastard by the gate.
“I'm looking for Isaura.”
“What for?”
“She hasn't been at work for a week.”
“She quit.”
“What's going on?” Aura steps out too. “What are you doing here!” She stands next to me, with a step behind me.
“I was worried about you! You stopped coming to work so...”
“I quit and I'm fine.” She answers cold.
“Yes, um, I see. Good.” Vince fidgets.
“If that's all then get lost.” I tell him, staring him down still.
“Can we talk?” He asks Aura.
“About what?” She's scared. I feel it. That bothers me for some reason...
The idiot gets more restless. He's losing his manners every second he's not getting what he wants. Oh the pleasure of torment...
“If you have nothing more to say then leave! Now!” Aura pressures him.
“You SLUT!” Vince yells waving his arm out. I manage to take two steps when Aura hangs herself off my neck.
“Don't!” She screams out. My arm wraps around her waist on its own.
“Why.” I growl.
“I'll do it.” She whispers into my ear. I let go. Isaura walks over to the gate and slaps Vince.
“Get out of my sight.” She hisses at him and walks away again. The idiot bursts through the gate into the yard, going right for her. I grab her arm first and pull her to me and behind me. I step forward, stopping Vince in his tracks.
“Move!” He yells at me.
“No.” I hold my ground. Stepping forward. I signal to Aura to step back. My hunch is right on the money. Vince takes a swing at me. I step back, drop into the stance and hammer in a few jabs right into his gut. A gasp reaches me from behind. A few loud groans escape the bent over Vince. I crouch down by him.
“Get. Lost. Now.” I tell him and he fumbles out the same way he came in. I straighten out and go back inside. Aura follows me. I wash my hands.
“What was that?” She says.
“Boxing.”
“One of the many skills you picked up on your travels?” She mocks me. I smile and come over closer to her, as I put my shirt back on.
“A man should know how to protect his woman.” I whisper. Her eyes are about to pop out of her skull. I grin more.
“I'd like my reward now.” I tell her. “I held back. I deserve it.” I whisper, leaning in. Aura closes her greens and waits. Adorable. I seal my lips with her forehead. She snaps her eyes open, staring at me confused. I can't hold it anymore and a giggle twitches my shoulders. “By the way... You're blushing.” I whisper into her ear and get a slap across the face with a gasp. Isaura covers her mouth and stares at me again. I laugh out loud.
“I am so sorry...” She says with a frozen startle on her face. I walk out of the kitchen.
“Come on, you have more tap-dancing to do. You still suck at it.” I call to her, picking up a page.
“How rude! I'm getting better at it!” She says, pouting.
“Alright, then try typing from sound alone.” I flip the book and pick three sentences. Aura quickly sits down, adjusts the paper and readies herself for it. I read the first sentence. She types two words and stops. I read it again. She types two more... This will take a while...